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  1. #1
    Trippul G's Avatar Senior Member
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    CronusMax...a slightly different perspective

    Before I get started, let me just first say a couple of things:1) this is probably an OT conversation, so mods, if you feel it should be moved, feel free...I just hoped to get a few more eyeballs on it here. And 2) in no way do I condone cheating or circumventing of the rules to gain an unfair advantage over others, and believe that those who do so should be punished to the fullest extent possible.

    With that out of the way, on with the rest of my post. (This is going to be a pretty long one, just so you're warned.)

    A little about me: I'm a pretty avid racing fan. Love Formula 1 and sports car /endurance racing in particular. As such, I love video games that let me simulate such things...and have done for years. I even went out several years ago and dropped a fairly hefty sum of money on a high-end wheel and pedals set up. I used it every day, I was in heaven.

    This was back during the late days of the Xbox 360. Imagine my disappointment when the Xbox One came along, and it was announced that my awesome, nearly brand new wheel setup would not be compatible, and I couldn't use it to play future versions of my favorite racing games.

    I held on to my 360 for several years so that I could continue to play my favorite games with my favorite device. But eventually, friends stopped playing, and the lack of support forced me to consider moving on.

    The decision was made for me when I received an Xbox One for my birthday. I was, of course, grateful...but I had reservations as well. My current wheel wouldn't work, and I didn't want to go out and drop several hundred dollars on a new one because of Microsoft's consumer unfriendly policy of forced obsolescence. So I bought new games, and played them with a gamepad...but it just wasn't the same. That sense of immersion and the fine level of control and feedback that you get from a wheel, just can't be replicated with a controller.

    Now, imagine my reaction when I discovered recently, word of a device that exists which will enable me to use that wheel and pedal set that I adore, with my Xbox One, and all of the latest racing titles? Needless to say, I was eager to find out more.

    The device in question is called DriveHub. It's a little box about 4x6 inches or so, from the looks of it, and it basically allows the use of almost any wheel and pedals with any platform (PC/XB1/PS4/PS3). Goes for about $90. Not exactly cheap, but a definite bargain when you're looking down the barrel of ~$500 for a whole new rig.

    However, there's one thing about this device that bothers me (and it's a pretty big thing): it's made by CronusMax. Yup, THOSE guys. The same ones who have done so much to ruin competitive PvP in The Division, Call of Duty, and others, with their recoil removal, aimbots, RPM scripts, and who knows what else.

    I would absolutely LOVE to be able to use my favorite device to play my favorite games again, but I just can't seem to overlook the fact that by purchasing this DriveHub, I would be supporting a company which not only condones cheating, but actively promotes it, by manufacturing other devices for which cheating is their sole purpose.

    The other thing that worries me, is if I do purchase DriveHub, how easy would it be for Microsoft to turn around at some point and issue a firmware update that could essentially disable this device from working? With all the negative feedback the CronusMax Plus (the device we all know and hate) is getting, maybe some action could be taken to blanket-disallow any similar devices, and my DriveHub would get caught up in the mix?

    So...I'm curious to know...what would you guys do? Should I leave my wheel and pedals boxed up where they have been for the last few years? Or am I being overly idealistic and/or paranoid?
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  2. #2
    Get one and enjoy your games.

    After all, you're using it for the right purposes.
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  3. #3
    Trippul G's Avatar Senior Member
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    Thanks for the reply. I think my biggest worry is that if I DO decide to get one, MS will put out a system update that will then effectively disable such devices.

    Then again, DriveHub seems to have been on the market since late last year. MS are apparently perfectly ok with the existence of CronusMax Plus, and have left it up to developers to support such things or not. If that hasn't drawn their ire, I can't see how something as innocuous as a simple input conversion box, which doesn't offer up any possibility of any game-breaking features or unfair advantages to the user, would suddenly incite action.

    Then again...it's Microsoft we're talking about, so who knows...?
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  4. #4
    agentCoats's Avatar Senior Member
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    With all these things I would assess what the cost per use would be to get an idea of just how much use Id get out of something. Yeah I know maths is boring.... ^^

    So 500/ no. of likely times used. vs 90/ no of likely times used. If you dont think youll get much out of the $90 unit, have alook at MS firmware release history of xb1 and other similar products. You should get an reasonable idea of the frequency of such rollouts and maybe even some sort of unofficial schedule, if they work like that.

    Ofc the bottom line could just be if you have the 500 spare or if you could sell your existing rig and see what you can raise to put towards the 500$ rig.

    Might be worth considering.

    As for getting something from the same builders that make the CM..... well its a question needs to ask itself and be happy with the answer!
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  5. #5
    Microsoft and Sony have already said they have no plans to ever limit input devices on their consoles. That is being left to game developers.

    So,in short,they will never disable the device.
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  6. #6
    Trippul G's Avatar Senior Member
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    Originally Posted by mckrackin5324 Go to original post
    Microsoft and Sony have already said they have no plans to ever limit input devices on their consoles. That is being left to game developers.

    So,in short,they will never disable the device.
    Point taken, but...never say never. Just because they don't have any plans now , doesn't necessarily mean they won't at some point in the future. If someone makes a good enough case for something affecting the company's bottom line, any plan is subject to change in a heartbeat.

    I've thought about it, and as much as I'm bothered by the thought of supporting a company that supports and promotes cheating in games, the idea of being able to use my wheel and pedal set again, and the enjoyment that I know I'll get out of it, is just too tempting to pass up.

    I think I'm going to unbox everything next weekend, get it set up on the old 360 (glad I kept that!) to make sure it all still works, and if it does, I'll put the order in for the DriveHub and see how it all goes.

    Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.
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  7. #7
    Originally Posted by Trippul G Go to original post
    Point taken, but...never say never. Just because they don't have any plans now , doesn't necessarily mean they won't at some point in the future. If someone makes a good enough case for something affecting the company's bottom line, any plan is subject to change in a heartbeat.

    I've thought about it, and as much as I'm bothered by the thought of supporting a company that supports and promotes cheating in games, the idea of being able to use my wheel and pedal set again, and the enjoyment that I know I'll get out of it, is just too tempting to pass up.

    I think I'm going to unbox everything next weekend, get it set up on the old 360 (glad I kept that!) to make sure it all still works, and if it does, I'll put the order in for the DriveHub and see how it all goes.

    Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.
    I'm telling everyone right now,if/when I buy a PS4 Pro,my Microsoft Elite controller is coming with me.
    If that means CronusMax,that's what it means.

    I'm not a cheater but I have a favorite controller. Not to mention the Elite V2 is coming after E3. I'll have that one too. lol
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  8. #8
    Trippul G's Avatar Senior Member
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    Originally Posted by mckrackin5324 Go to original post
    I'm telling everyone right now,if/when I buy a PS4 Pro,my Microsoft Elite controller is coming with me.
    If that means CronusMax,that's what it means.

    I'm not a cheater but I have a favorite controller. Not to mention the Elite V2 is coming after E3. I'll have that one too. lol
    OT, but how long have you had your elite controller? I've had mine for about a year and a half. Initially, it was great, had a nice, solid feel to it. After about 9 months or so, the rubber grip on the handles started to peel away and separate (it got to the point that the rubber then stretched and I couldn't re-glue it without having to peel the rubber COMPLETELY off, trim it with an Xacto, and epoxy it back together.) I did that for the right side, now the same thing is happening to the left.

    On top of that, the clasp that holds the left bumper in place has broken, and the button itself has no spring left to it. It still works, but I have to be careful to make sure I don't shake it or tilt it the wrong way, or else it'll fall out on the floor.

    Overall, I'd say it may be "elite" in concept, but it's decidedly "peasant" in build quality. Definitely not worth the $150 asking price.

    (I just saw recently that there's now a Porsche-branded elite controller, with alcantara grips and some other embellishments for $299, I think it was! I just don't get who that is supposed to be for. If you're THAT much of a car/racing fanatic where a Porsche-branded controller will appeal to you, why would you settle for a gamepad, when you could literally take those 300 dollars and go buy a nice new wheel? I'm sure someone will buy it though. There's always those people who have to have something just because it's exclusive...practicality be damned.)
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  9. #9
    Originally Posted by Trippul G Go to original post
    OT, but how long have you had your elite controller? I've had mine for about a year and a half. Initially, it was great, had a nice, solid feel to it. After about 9 months or so, the rubber grip on the handles started to peel away and separate (it got to the point that the rubber then stretched and I couldn't re-glue it without having to peel the rubber COMPLETELY off, trim it with an Xacto, and epoxy it back together.) I did that for the right side, now the same thing is happening to the left.

    On top of that, the clasp that holds the left bumper in place has broken, and the button itself has no spring left to it. It still works, but I have to be careful to make sure I don't shake it or tilt it the wrong way, or else it'll fall out on the floor.

    Overall, I'd say it may be "elite" in concept, but it's decidedly "peasant" in build quality. Definitely not worth the $150 asking price.

    (I just saw recently that there's now a Porsche-branded elite controller, with alcantara grips and some other embellishments for $299, I think it was! I just don't get who that is supposed to be for. If you're THAT much of a car/racing fanatic where a Porsche-branded controller will appeal to you, why would you settle for a gamepad, when you could literally take those 300 dollars and go buy a nice new wheel? I'm sure someone will buy it though. There's always those people who have to have something just because it's exclusive...practicality be damned.)
    The rubber peeled of my grips but I replaced them with textured grips from a regular Xbox One controller for $6.
    Just have to snap a couple of the tabs off to get it to snap on.

    I used these...




    All the triggers and bumpers are solid. I've had it a few months and bought it used. No idea how old it is.
    The triggers and bumpers are easy and cheap to replace btw.
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  10. #10
    My controller. To prove the Xbox One grips fit

    Sorry about the crappy phone pix. lol



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